Packaging machine



May 19, 1964 B. L. SARGENT PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1962 INVENTOR. BE RT L. SARGE NT v mm y 1964 B. L. SARGENT 3,133,391

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I42 Fig. 7

a 64 m. Ki 15s o o 54 34 64 50 46 ,H' 54 use 7 o H l 1 I 11 1: ,ciwtti -1 51 an": 2? 2 38 4 4 zg vh 4'0 4'8 38 3'6 46 T6 Fig.8 1s 56 28 INVENTOR. BERT L. S ARGENT y 1964 B. L. SARGENT 3,133,391

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. IO

96 M .mumnumn" MW Fig.ll

INVENTOR. BERT L. SARGENT 3,133,3M PACKAGING MAQHENE Bert L. Sargent, 3649 Antiern St, San Diego ll, (Talit'. Filed Feb. 13, F962, Set. No. 173,614 9 (llamas. (Cl. 3---2fi6) The present invention relates generally to wrapping and packaging and more particularly to a packaging machine for completely wrapping and sealing a product.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a packaging machine which will wrap a product tightly and seal the Wrapper in consecutive, automatically actuated Ste 5.

Znother object of this invention is to provide a packaging machine having novel folding means which ensures complete overlaptof the wrapping material, and using a sealing unit which engages the entire overlapped portion to ensure proper sealing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a packaging machine which will wrap a variety of products, but which is particularly suitable for wrapping meat.

A further object of this invention is to provide a packaging machine having a minimum of actual working parts, the products being transported on individual carriers which assist in carrying out the wrapping steps during their advancement through the various stations.

Finally, it is an object to provide a packaging machine of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to construct and operate and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in View, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the complete machine;

FIGURES 2a-2d illustrate diagrammatically the various steps in the wrapping; 7

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the first sta tions of the machine;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3;

United States Patent FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing 7 the mechanism starting an advancement of the packages between stations;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged top plan view of the final stations of the machine;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 8, with the mechanism advancing to operate the sealing unit;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line ld1tl of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken on line 1ll1 of FIGURE 10. I

General Construction The machine is constructed in a basic frame Zti having sides 22 which may be supported or joinedby any suitable internal structure, the top of the frame being almost entirely covered by a top panel 24. Fixed to the inside of sides 22 are opposed, endless tracks 2d, having horizontal upper rails 28, lower rails 39 and interconnecting arcuate ends 32. Riding in tracks 26 is an endless belt of individual carriers 34- each comprising a generally fiat, plate-like center section 36 and a pair of end sections 3% and 4'10, each section having a pair of rollersdz which lce roll in said tracks. The sections of each carrier 34 are interconnected in articulated fashion by tie links 44, which may be conveniently held by the axles 46 holding rollers 42, as in FIGURES 6 and 8, for example. Adjacent carriers are coupled together by connecting links 48 having smoothly curved raised portions St), the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

Each carrier 34 has a flat platform 54 mounted on a post 56 which is slidable perpendicularly through the center of center section 36, said platform being supported on a light coil spring 58 and the upward travel thereof being limited by a stop 60 at the lower end of said post, as in FIGURE 6. Downward travel of the platform 54 is lim ited by raised stops 62 on the end sections 38, said end sections having perpendicular walls 64 enclosing the ends of the carrier. Extending across the walls 64 and recessed therein are freely rotatable guide rollers 66. When the carriers 34 are riding in the upper and lower rails 28 and 3d, the articulated sections are aligned to form a rectangmlar box-like unit by means of flat leaf springs 68 fixed to the underside of each of sections 36, 38 and 40 by screws 70 and each spring extending below the adjacent sections as indicated in FIGURES 6 and 10.

The carriers 34 are advanced by means of an intermittent linear actuator 72, which may be installed in the lower portion of the machine to engage the carriers as they return in inverted position along lower rails 36. The actuator 72 may be a solenoid, fiuid operated cylinder, or similar device and is mounted on cross braces 74 above the lower rails 30, as in FIGURES ll) and 11. Each carrier 34 has a lug 76 fixed perpendicularly to the lower Wrapping Mechanism Wrapping of a package is carried out at four sequential stations along the upper rails 28. At the first station 82 the top panel 24- is cut away to expose one carrier 34, and above this station is a verticallyv movable platen 84 operated, by a vertical linear actuator 86 having a slidable bar $8 to which said platen is fixed. The actuator 86 may be a solenoid, fluid operated cylinder, or the like and is supported by a fixed arm 90 extending upwardly from frame 20. At the trailing side oftthe first station 82, from which the carriers advance, are a pair of folding arms 92 pivotally mounted on brackets 94 secured to the sides 22, as in FIGURES 5 and 6. The folding arms 92 normally extend toward each other slightly above the top of the carriers 34 and are pivoted to swing horizontally in the direction of motion of the advancing carriers. The swinging is performed by upwardly projecting fingers 96 at the upper corners of each end section 33; which engage the folding arms @2 adjacent their pivots, so that a small motion of the fingers produces a large swing of the arms, as in FIGURE 5. The undersides of folding arms 92 have notches 93 through which fingers 96 slide after the arms reach-a particular angle of swing, said arms being biased by springs 16% to return to their normal position. Since fingers 96 project above the carriers, top panel 24 may, have grooves 192 on the underside for clearance of the fingers.

At the leading side of the first station 82 the top panel 24 has an upwardly turned flange 104 extending transversely across the opening therein. At each side of the top panel 24 are slide bars 106 mounted for longitudinal sliding motion on guide rods 16% passing through trunnions 110 fixed to said top panel. Slide bars we have inclined ramp portions 112 extending alongside opposite ends of flange 104 and are biased toward said flange by springs 1 14. The platen 84 has a pair of projecting arms 116 carrying rollers 118 which engage the ramp portions 112 when the platen is lowered, as in FIGURE 4, thus causing linear sliding motion of slide bars 106. Extending across the top panel 24 is a cross shaft 120 mounted in bearings 122, said cross shaft passing through slots 124 in the slide bars 166 and being fitted with pinions 125 which are engaged by toothed racks 126 formed in said slots. On the ends of cross shaft 120 are creasing plates 128 which swing downwardly on opposite sides of top panel 24, as indicated in broken line position in FIGURE 4, when the cross shaft is rotated by motion of slide bars 106. This action takes place at the second station 130, at which the top panel 24 is provided with downwardly extending side skirts 132, said skirts having smoothly finished leading edges 134 adjacent the position of creasing plates 128.

On either side of the machine are laterally projecting wing plates 136, extending from the beginning of the first station 82 longitudinally along the sides 22 at substantially the level of platforms 54 in their depressed position, as will be apparent from FIGURE 6. The lower edges of skirts 1'32 are spaced above wing plates 136 to provide longitudinal guide slots 1 38.

At the third station 140, the wing plates 136 have turning portions 142 smoothly curved upwardly and over the top panel 24, almost meeting at the central portion thereof. Guide slots 1% follow the wing plates 136 and terminate in enlarged entry portions 144 in top plate 24, as in FIGURE 7. Since the portion of top plate 24 between the second and third stations is substantially separated from the machine, a rigid support yoke 146 is extended from sides 22, outwardly around wing plates 136 and fixed to opposite sides of the top panel at the position of second station 130.

The fourth station 148 contains a sealing unit 150, preferably of the electrically heated type, which extends transversely across the machine and fits into a slot 152 in top panel 24. The sealing unit 150 is mounted on a pair of carriage members 154 vertically movable between guide rollens 156 on the sides 22 as in FIGURES 8 and 9, said carriage members having freely rotatable lifting rollers 158 at the lower ends thereof. The lifting rollers 158 are disposed above the links of carriers 34 and ride on the raised portions 50 of connecting links 48. Thus the sealing unit 150 is lifted by the raised portions 50, as in FIG- URE 8, and is lowered into slot 1152 as said raised portions advance, as in FIGURE 9. 1

Operation The product 160 is wrapped, as indicated in FIGURES 2a-2d, in a thin wrapper 162 of plastic sheet, or other material which can be heat sealed. The product 160 is placed on wrapper 162 with its length extending diagonally across the center of the wrapper, the product being indicated as a simple rectangular block by way of an example. Initially, the wrapper, with the product in place thereon, is placed on the platform 54 of the carrier 34 at the first station 82. When the machine is operated the platen 84 descends, pressing the product, wrapper and platform down into the carrier 34 between rollers 66 which press the wrapper against the product, as in FIG- URE 4, until platform 54 rests on stops 62. By this action, the first and second corners A and B of wrapper 162 are folded upwardly, as in FIGURE 2a, also indicated in broken line in FIGURE 4. When the platen 84 is lifted the platform 54 stays in place, vsince spring 58 is not sufiiciently strong to fully support the weight of the product 160, but is merely used to raise empty platform.

The actuator 72 now operates to advance all of the carriers 34 simultaneously. Any suitable timing means may be used to operate actuators 72 and 86 alternately, according to the specific type of actuators, this being the only portion of the mechanism which need actually be timed. At the first station 82 this motion causes fingers 96 to swing folding arms 92 and fold corner A of wrapper 162 down across product 160, as in FIGURES 2b and 5. This occurs during a small part of the motion of the carrier, after which the arms 92 fly back. Continned motion of the carriers takes the loaded carrier to the second station 130, the corner B of wrapper 162 being folded down over corner A as the wrapper passes under flange 1114, the partially folded position being indicated in FIGURES 2b and 5. The advancement to second station 136 also forces the ends C of corner B under the leading edges 134 of side skirts 132, forming creased edges D indicated in broken line in FIGURE 2c. While the carriers are stopped, platen 84 again descends, the rollers 118 shifting slide bars 106 and swinging creasing plates 128 downwardly, as in FIGURE 4, to strike the ends E of corner A and form creased edges F, the result being illustrated in FIGURE 20.

Further advancement of the carriers 34 causes the creased edged corners G and H to he slid along wing plates 136 and turned upwardly and inwardly by turning portions 142 as in FIGURE 5, said corners passing through entry portions 144 of slots 138 and being pressed flat on top of the package as it passes under top panel 24 at the third station 140. The wrapped package is illustrated in FIGURE 2d. Throughout the sequence, the folded corners are kept in place against the underside of top panel 24.

At the next advancement of carriers 34, the wrapped package passes below sealing unit at the fourth station 148, the sealing unit being lowered to wipe across the entire upper face of the package and seal the various folded portions, as in FIGURE 9. Sealing unit 150 is lowered as the guide rollers 156 descend from raised portions 54} of connecting links 48. When the carriers 34 are halted the raised portions 511 lift the sealing unit 150 clear, between adjacent carriers, to avoid burning, as in FIGURE 8.

The carriers thus advance intermittently through the various stations, allowing time for the wrapping actions to take place. Aftersealing the packages are ejected when the carriers 34 pass around end portions 32 from upper rails 28 to lower rails 30.

While the machine is capable of wrapping a variety of products, the mechanism is particularly suitable for han dling meat without damage. The meat is preferably precut, or formed into patties in the case of processed meat, and may be placed on the wrapper with a pilot board or paper tray in place, as in conventional wrapped meat packages. With some wrapped meats air is trapped in the package and condensed moisture therein forms frost which obscures the meat. The present machine will wrap meat products tightly and exclude most of the air, resulting in frost free packaging and improving sales potential.

The mechanism is basically simple and utilizes a minimum number of parts, with no complex lever or linkage systems. Most of the operations are actuated by advancement of the carriers, so eliminating the need for elaborate synchronization means between the various stages.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A packaging machine, comprising:

a frame having spaced sides;

opposed, endless tracks fixed to said sides;

a plurality of carriers each to hold a product to be wrapped;

each of said carriers having a depressable platform and upwardly extending end walls;

said carriers being interconnected and mounted to ride in said tracks;

actuating means for advancing said carriers intermittently along said tracks;

said frame having a top panel substantially covering the upper extent of said tracks with said carriers passing beneath the top panel;

a first wrapping station having an open portion in said top panel for insertion of a product and thin, sheetlike wrapper therefor onto the platform of one of said carriers, with the product disposed transversely in the carrier and the wrapper disposed with corners thereof extending laterally on either side and other corners leading and trailing the product in the direction of advancement;

means at said finst station to depress the product and wrapper on said platform between said end walls and fold the leading and trailing corners upwardly;

further means to fold the leading and trailing corners inwardly and downwardly over the product;

a second station having means to crease the ends of the folded leading and trailing corners downwardly over the ends of the product;

a third station having means to fold the laterally extending corners upwardly and over the product;

and a fourth station having sealing means operable upon advancement of said carriers to contact and seal the overlapped corners of the wrapper; each of said carriers comprises a plate-like center section on which said platform is mounted, a pair of end sections having said end walls integral therewith, links pivotally interconnecting said end sections with said center section, and rollers rotatably mounted on each of said sections and riding in said tracks.

2. A packaging machine according to claim 1 and including substantially flat spring means secured to each of said sections and engaging the next adjacent sections to hold all of the sections in parallel alignment in said tracks while carrying packages therein.

3. A packaging machine, comprising:

a frame having spaced sides;

opposed, endless tracks fixed to said sides;

a plurality of carriers each to hold a product to be wrapped;

each of said carriers having a depressable platform and upwardly extending end walls;

said carriers being interconnected and mounted to ride in said tracks;

actuating means for advancing said carriers intermittently along said tracks;

said frame having a top panel substantially covering the upper extent of said tracks with said carriers passing beneath the top panel;

a first wrapping station having an open portion in said top panel for insertion of a product and thin, sheetlike wrapper therefor onto the platform of one of said carriers, with the product disposed transversely in the carrier and the wrapper disposed with corners thereof extending laterally on either side and other corners leading and trailing the product in the direction of advancement;

a vertically movable platen mounted above said first station and being operable to depress the product and wrapper on said platform downwardly between said end walls of the carrier, thereby folding the leading and trailing corners of the wrapper upwardly;

folding means to fold the trailing corner of the wrapper downwardly over the product, the leading corner of the wrapper being folded downwardly by advancement of the carrier beneath said top panel;

a second station having means to crease the ends of the folded leading and trailing corners downwardly over the ends of the product;

a third station having means to fold the laterally extending corners upwardly and over the product;

and a fourth station having sealing means operable upon advancement of said carriers to contact and seal the overlapped corners of the wrapper.

4. A packaging machine according to claim in said first station folding means comprises:

folding arms pivotally mounted on said frame at the trailing side of said open portion;

each of said carriers having fingers engageable with said arms to swing the arms across the open portion immediately above said carrier as the carrier advances, thereby folding the trailing corner of the wrapper downwardly;

said arms being biased to return to their initial position after release from said fingers.

5. A packaging machine according to claim 4, wherein said fingers engage said arms adjacent the pivots thereof, so that a small linear motion of the fingers produces a large angular swing of the arms;

and said arms having notches through which said fingers can pass when the arms reach a predetermined angle of swing.

6. A packaging machine according to claim 3, wherein said second station creasing means comprises:

creasing plates mounted on said top panel to swing downwardly on opposite sides thereof;

actuating means on said platen engageable with said creasing plates to swing the plates downwardly as the platen descends and creasing the ends of the folded trailing corner or the wrapper;

side skirts depending from the longitudinal edges of said top panel and straddling said carriers;

said skirts having smooth end portinos which engage and crease the ends of the folded leading corner of the wrapper as each carrier advances therebetween.

7. A packaging machine according to claim 3, where 3, wherein said third station folding means comprises:

said sealing means comprises:

a sealing unit extending transversely across said top panel, the top panelhaving an opening through which said sealing unit can descend to contact the upper surface of a wrapped package passing therebelow;

and means to lift said sealing unit clear of the packages between advancements of said carriers.

9. A packaging machine according to claim 8, wherein said lifting means comprises:

connecting links pivotally interconnecting adjacent carriers, said connecting links having raised portions; said sealing unit having carriage members mounted to slide substantially vertically on said sides;

the lower ends of said carriage members being disposed above said connecting links and being engaged by the raised portions thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Browander Aug. 11, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Nov. 14, 1914 

3. A PACKAGING MACHINE, COMPRISING: A FRAME HAVING SPACED SIDES; OPPOSED, ENDLESS TRACKS FIXED TO SAID SIDES; A PLURALITY OF CARRIERS EACH TO HOLD A PRODUCT TO BE WRAPPED; EACH OF SAID CARRIERS HAVING A DEPRESSABLE PLATFORM AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING END WALLS; SAID CARRIERS BEING INTERCONNECTED AND MOUNTED TO RIDE IN SAID TRACKS; ACTUATING MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID CARRIERS INTERMITTENTLY ALONG SAID TRACKS; SAID FRAME HAVING A TOP PANEL SUBSTANTIALLY COVERING THE UPPER EXTENT OF SAID TRACKS WITH SAID CARRIERS PASSING BENEATH THE TOP PANEL; A FIRST WRAPPING STATION HAVING AN OPEN PORTION IN SAID TOP PANEL FOR INSERTION OF A PRODUCT AND THIN, SHEETLIKE WRAPPER THEREFOR ONTO THE PLATFORM OF ONE OF SAID CARRIERS, WITH THE PRODUCT DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY IN THE CARRIER AND THE WRAPPER DISPOSED WITH CORNERS THEREOF EXTENDING LATERALLY ON EITHER SIDE AND OTHER CORNERS LEADING AND TRAILING THE PRODUCT IN THE DIRECTION OF ADVANCEMENT; A VERTICALLY MOVABLE PLATEN MOUNTED ABOVE SAID FIRST STATION AND BEING OPERABLE TO DEPRESS THE PRODUCT AND WRAPPER ON SAID PLATFORM DOWNWARDLY BETWEEN SAID END WALLS OF THE CARRIER, THEREBY FOLDING THE LEADING AND TRAILING CORNERS OF THE WRAPPER UPWARDLY; FOLDING MEANS TO FOLD THE TRAILING CORNER OF THE WRAPPER DOWNWARDLY OVER THE PRODUCT, THE LEADING CORNER OF THE WRAPPER BEING FOLDED DOWNWARDLY BY ADVANCEMENT OF THE CARRIER BENEATH SAID TOP PANEL; A SECOND STATION HAVING MEANS TO CREASE THE ENDS OF THE FOLDED LEADING AND TRAILING CORNERS DOWNWARDLY OVER THE ENDS OF THE PRODUCT; A THIRD STATION HAVING MEANS TO FOLD THE LATERALLY EXTENDING CORNERS UPWARDLY AND OVER THE PRODUCT; AND A FOURTH STATION HAVING SEALING MEANS OPERABLE UPON ADVANCEMENT OF SAID CARRIERS TO CONTACT AND SEAL THE OVERLAPPED CORNERS OF THE WRAPPER. 